Chapter 20. Lumine Gets a Drop!
Inside Futsu Mitama's courtyard, the newly set up Mechanical Cooking Divine Machine operated continuously, releasing waves of fragrance as dish after dish emerged from within its intricate structure. The table had already been filled with a dazzling variety of food, each plate steaming gently, the aroma blending together into something irresistibly rich.
Everyone gradually took their seats, but the one whose reaction was the most exaggerated was undoubtedly Paimon. Her eyes were wide open, fixed entirely on the Mechanical Cooking Divine Machine, and the longing in her expression was so obvious that it was almost tangible. To her, this device was far more shocking than anything else she had seen since arriving in Liyue.
Putting ingredients in… waiting a few minutes… and a perfect dish appeared?
To Paimon, that was simply unbelievable.
"How…how is this done? This is too amazing!!!" she blurted out, her tone filled with pure amazement.
At that moment, she truly felt like someone who had just stepped into a completely unfamiliar world, as if everything around her was brand new.
She had not felt this way in Mondstadt, but here in Liyue, the feeling was especially strong. The Chat Group, the presence of multiple Archon-level existences, and now this Mechanical Cooking Divine Machine—everything stacked together, overwhelming her senses.
And yet, compared to the first two—this machine shocked her even more.
Because this—was something she could understand.
Cooking!
And she had never seen cooking done like this before.
"Hmph~ If this Adeptus wishes to create it, then naturally it can be done." Cloud Retainer lifted her head proudly, clearly pleased by the praise. "In matters of mechanical arts and gourmet cuisine, this Adeptus is second to none."
"To combine the two is merely a trivial matter."
Paimon nodded vigorously, showing complete agreement. But then, as if suddenly realizing something, she tilted her head and asked with innocent curiosity,
"Then why is it called the New Mechanical Cooking Divine Machine?"
"… "
The courtyard fell silent for a brief moment.
Almost at the same time, Futsu Mitama and Zhongli lifted their teacups in perfect synchronization, as if they had not heard anything at all. Sangonomiya Kokomi quietly lowered her gaze, appearing to carefully consider which dish to try first. Kuki Shinobu and Aila, who were still organizing ingredients, also chose silence.
Cloud Retainer glanced at Paimon again.
Her earlier favorable impression…dropped slightly.
"It was created by both of us," Guizhong said with a light laugh, stepping in to explain.
"Originally, Cloud Retainer's Mechanical Cooking Divine Machine had quite a few issues. The current version, after incorporating my contributions, became what you see now. Naturally, the name changed."
Hearing this, Paimon's expression instantly became awkward. She realized that she had stepped right into something she probably shouldn't have asked.
Ah—this was embarrassing.
At that moment, the Mechanical Cooking Divine Machine emitted another soft sound, and Shenhe walked over with the final dish, her tone calm as always.
"The chicken soup is ready."
With the rich aroma of the soup spreading across the table, the slightly awkward atmosphere finally eased.
"Everyone, eat," Cloud Retainer said, her tone returning to normal. "Let this Adeptus see how these dishes fare."
Although she and Guizhong had tested the machine many times before, this was the first time so many people were tasting its results together. Naturally, she cared about the feedback—especially from Zhongli, Futsu Mitama, Shenhe, and Aila.
As for Guizhong—her opinion no longer carried much weight in this matter.
"Good!!"
Paimon didn't wait even a second before diving in.
Zhongli also picked up his chopsticks, calmly tasting the dishes. Futsu Mitama followed shortly after. Although he had already eaten earlier, his current physique made such concerns meaningless. As for Guizhong, being an Archon meant she could eat as much as she pleased without consequence.
Kokomi, Shenhe, and Aila also began eating, while Shinobu, who was technically already full, sighed softly before still reaching for her chopsticks.
Soon, Paimon and Lumine were completely immersed in the meal. Paimon's mouth was already oily as she spoke nonstop, repeatedly praising the dishes as the most delicious she had ever eaten in her life. Lumine nodded along, silently agreeing.
Cloud Retainer's expression subtly softened.
Her impression of the two improved immediately.
Futsu Mitama, however, gave a more measured evaluation. He admitted that the dishes were indeed delicious, but he felt that something was slightly lacking. Zhongli followed with a similar observation, noting that while the taste was good, it seemed to lack a certain human touch.
Guizhong immediately frowned at that. "When eating, just eat. Why analyze so much?"
Zhongli only smiled faintly and said nothing more.
After the meal ended, Cloud Retainer stood up without hesitation. "This Adeptus still has matters to attend to."
"If Shenhe and Aila complete their affairs, they should return to Mt. Aocang. Their strength has already reached the Adeptus level, and it is time for them to receive further teachings."
She paused slightly, glancing at Zhongli and Guizhong, then chose not to linger any longer. Without further explanation, she departed swiftly.
With her departure, the atmosphere in the courtyard visibly relaxed.
Much like when Thoma had been present in Inazuma, certain topics had to be restrained when someone outside the Chat Group was around.
Now—
There was no longer any need for that restraint.
Inside Futsu Mitama's courtyard, the atmosphere gradually shifted from the earlier liveliness into something more focused. After the meal and the brief exchange of pleasantries, Aila no longer held back her concern and stepped forward, her gaze fixed on him with unusual seriousness.
"Young Master…where is [me]?"
Her question was direct, leaving no room for ambiguity. The "me" she referred to was naturally Black Aila, and the worry in her tone was not something she could conceal. For Aila, this was not merely about another existence—it was about her own future. If something truly happened to Black Aila, then the path ahead for her might be cut off entirely.
"The Chasm," Futsu Mitama replied without hesitation. He did not hide anything and met her gaze calmly. "According to the information provided by Tartaglia, if nothing unexpected has occurred, then she is indeed there."
"There is an independent space beneath it. The environment there is extremely complex. Most likely—she is trapped inside."
The moment those words fell, Shenhe quietly put down her chopsticks. Her expression turned serious as she spoke, her tone calm but heavy. "The Chasm—that place is sealed jointly by the Qixing and the adeptus."
"The outer seal belongs to the Qixing, but beneath it lies a deeper restriction set by the adeptus and Rex Lapis himself. Without permission, it is impossible for ordinary people to enter."
She paused slightly, then added, "Even if someone forcibly digs their way in, the consequences would be worse."
"According to Master, there is something beneath The Chasm that even the adeptus do not approach lightly. For mortals, entering that place is no different from seeking death."
As an adeptus disciple, Shenhe was familiar with many hidden matters within Liyue. Even without personally witnessing it, she knew enough to understand the danger.
"Black Aila—what is that?" Paimon raised her hand like a curious child, clearly unable to keep up with the conversation.
Lumine also looked over, her gaze attentive. The expressions of everyone present made it obvious—this was not a trivial matter.
"Actually…" Futsu Mitama began, taking the time to explain the relationship between Aila and Black Aila, as well as the information obtained from the Fatui. He did not skip details, allowing both Lumine and Paimon to fully understand the situation.
When they learned that he intended to cooperate with a Fatui Harbinger and go deep into The Chasm, both of them instinctively frowned. The impression the Fatui had left on them in Mondstadt was far from positive, and according to what they had heard from Jean and the Knights of Favonius, those they encountered had already been relatively restrained.
"This plan—doesn't sound very safe," Paimon muttered.
"This matter—I approve."
Before the discussion could continue, Guizhong spoke decisively, her tone leaving no room for objection. She did not even glance at Zhongli as she made her judgment, as if his opinion would not change anything.
Zhongli merely looked at her quietly, his gaze carrying a faint, unreadable meaning, but he did not speak.
Guizhong then extended her hand toward Futsu Mitama, her expression turning slightly more serious. "Since you are heading into The Chasm, there is something I would like to ask of you."
Futsu Mitama raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of surprise appearing in his expression. Guizhong asking for help—this was not something he expected. Almost instinctively, he glanced toward Zhongli, who was calmly drinking tea as if he had nothing to do with the matter.
That glance was enough.
Futsu Mitama understood.
This request was not entirely Guizhong's idea—it carried Zhongli's intention as well.
"Are you surprised?" Guizhong smiled faintly. "Even I have times when I ask others for help."
She did not waste time and went straight to the point. "Do you know of the Five Yakshas?"
"The Five Yakshas—The Chasm?" Kuki Shinobu immediately connected the two, her expression thoughtful. "Are you referring to the events from five hundred years ago?"
Shenhe's eyes also flickered slightly. "The Nameless Yaksha…"
Guizhong nodded. "If nothing unexpected has happened, then in the space beneath The Chasm, there may be someone in the same state I was in back then."
"The same state?" Paimon's voice rose in surprise. "A Demon God?!"
Lumine, however, focused on a different detail. "What state were you in?"
"I was a remnant soul," Guizhong answered calmly, placing her hands on her hips as if recounting something impressive. "A state closest to death."
"Later, Futsu Mitama brought me into the Chat Group. That allowed me to persist. After that, I obtained a special husk body through sign-in and was able to truly revive."
She then looked directly at him. "If you encounter that Yaksha's remnant soul, can you invite him into the Chat Group?"
"I will prepare an artifact capable of preserving such a soul. As long as he can be brought out—there is a chance to restore him."
Her tone was no longer playful.
This was a request.
Futsu Mitama fell silent for a brief moment, then exhaled lightly. "That's not difficult—but there's one problem."
"I have good news and bad news."
Guizhong did not hesitate. "The bad news."
"The invitation slots are used up," Futsu Mitama said frankly. "At level three, I already used all five—Barbatos, Shenhe, Ei, Lumine, and Paimon."
Guizhong froze slightly, clearly not expecting this.
Zhongli, however, remained calm. "Then the good news?"
Futsu Mitama looked at him and said seriously, "The group is about to level up. Once it reaches level four, I should obtain new invitation slots."
"It won't take long. But whether that Yaksha still has a remnant soul left—that's the key."
Zhongli's brows furrowed slightly. Five hundred years was not a short time. Even for a Yaksha, survival in that state was uncertain.
"Sign in?" Paimon suddenly spoke up, her attention completely diverted. "What is that?"
Futsu Mitama glanced at her, then explained patiently, "Think of it as a way to test your luck."
"There's a 'Sign In' button in the group. Press it, and you'll either get an item—or just experience."
Paimon immediately followed his instructions.
Then—
"Eh?! Where's my item?! Why did I only get one hundred experience points?!" she cried out in shock.
Before anyone could respond, her gaze shifted.
"Traveler!! Why do you have a box in your hand?!"
At that moment, everyone's attention turned toward Lumine.
In her palm—
A strange box had appeared silently.